The $30 million that Arizona received this week from the Obama administration will help the state develop and design a health insurance exchange website that can seamlessly interact with Medicaid.

But the pot of money, particularly given its size, potentially poses legal and political complications for Gov. Jan Brewer, who is against the federal health care overhaul and led Arizona in suing over its constitutionality.

Some view Brewer’s decision to seek the grant as tantamount to surrendering Arizona’s case.

Three Arizona hospital systems are pooling their money to take advantage of a federal program that will cover nearly 20,000 more children under the KidsCare program while also providing millions of dollars to offset the cost of covering uninsured patients.

Advocates for state services and programs shouldn't hold out hope that Arizona's improving fiscal situation means cuts made to keep the state budget in the black will be reversed any time soon, an official said Friday.

Rep. Matt Heinz said he sees more and more patients who are unable to afford treatment for their catastrophic health conditions. He called for the Legislature to restore funding to the Medical Expense Deduction program.